Houston read an “open letter to the people of Alabama” signed by him and nine other current or former Supreme Court justices, including three Republicans, endorsing Vance in Tuesday’s general election.

At a news conference, Houston said Moore’s duties as chief justice from 2001-03 included administration of the state court system.

Houston said a lawsuit filed over the Ten Commandments monument that Moore installed in the Judicial Building in 2001 cost taxpayers $549,431 even though Moore had assured him the monument wouldn’t cost the state anything.

A federal judge ordered Moore to move the monument. Moore refused and was removed from office in 2003. Houston said the court system had to pay $7,000 to move the monument and would have been subject to a federal fine totaling $35 million had it not been moved.

Houston said Moore twice did not furnish required financial information to a legislative budget committee “as we had always furnished before” and that the committee threatened to cut the court system’s funding to zero.

“We cannot afford any kind of replay of what happened back then. That’s why we need a fresh start,” Houston said.

Moore says if elected, he will not return the monument to the Judicial Building. He responded to Houston in an email.

“This is typical of the Democrat Party, which is losing in this election, both nationally and in this state,” Moore said. “These are desperate attempts to fight a losing battle, and we will not be a party to it.”

In addition to Houston, signing the letter were retired Justice Bernard Harwood and retiring associate Justice Tom Woodall, both Republicans.

Democrats endorsing Vance are former Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb and former associate justices Sam Beatty, John England, Kenneth Ingram, Douglas Johnstone, Mark Kennedy and Janie Shores. England is a circuit judge in Tuscaloosa County, and Kennedy is chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party.

“It’s no surprise to us that Judge Vance is receiving support from leaders of both parties,” Alabama Democratic Party executive director Bradley Davidson said.

The chief justice makes appointments and works with circuit and district court judges and clerks. “Bob Vance has committed to working with the associate justices and judges of the court of appeals in making these important appointments,” the letter said.

“My Democratic opponent has pledged to support the Democrat (President), Barack Obama, and the Democrat platform of taxpayer-funded abortion and same-sex marriage, which contradicts the beliefs of most Alabamians,” Moore said in a statement. “If some judges want to support him, they have every right to do so.”

Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead downplayed the endorsements, saying it’s not news when “nominal Republicans” who served on the court endorse a Democrat.

“I think the endorsement that most Alabamians are interested in is who Judge Vance has endorsed — President Barack Obama,” said Armistead, who noted that Vance’s wife, Joyce Vance, was appointed by Obama as U.S. Attorney in Birmingham.

Vance said Moore was removed from office because he defied a federal judge, not because of his religious views.

“His tenure was a very controversial time not just pertaining to the monument but also difficulties of a relationship with the Legislature,” Vance said. “We don’t need a return to that. As chief justice I recognize just as every other American does my obligation to follow the law.”

<p>MONTGOMERY | Retired Republican Supreme Court Justice Gorman Houston on Tuesday endorsed Democratic chief justice candidate Robert Vance Jr., saying that Republican opponent Roy Moore was a terrible court administrator when he served as chief justice.</p><p>Houston read an “open letter to the people of Alabama” signed by him and nine other current or former Supreme Court justices, including three Republicans, endorsing Vance in Tuesday's general election.</p><p>At a news conference, Houston said Moore's duties as chief justice from 2001-03 included administration of the state court system.</p><p>Houston said a lawsuit filed over the Ten Commandments monument that Moore installed in the Judicial Building in 2001 cost taxpayers $549,431 even though Moore had assured him the monument wouldn't cost the state anything. </p><p>A federal judge ordered Moore to move the monument. Moore refused and was removed from office in 2003. Houston said the court system had to pay $7,000 to move the monument and would have been subject to a federal fine totaling $35 million had it not been moved.</p><p>Houston said Moore twice did not furnish required financial information to a legislative budget committee “as we had always furnished before” and that the committee threatened to cut the court system's funding to zero.</p><p>“We cannot afford any kind of replay of what happened back then. That's why we need a fresh start,” Houston said.</p><p>Moore says if elected, he will not return the monument to the Judicial Building. He responded to Houston in an email.</p><p>“This is typical of the Democrat Party, which is losing in this election, both nationally and in this state,” Moore said. “These are desperate attempts to fight a losing battle, and we will not be a party to it.”</p><p>In addition to Houston, signing the letter were retired Justice Bernard Harwood and retiring associate Justice Tom Woodall, both Republicans.</p><p>Democrats endorsing Vance are former Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb and former associate justices Sam Beatty, John England, Kenneth Ingram, Douglas Johnstone, Mark Kennedy and Janie Shores. England is a circuit judge in Tuscaloosa County, and Kennedy is chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party.</p><p>“It's no surprise to us that Judge Vance is receiving support from leaders of both parties,” Alabama Democratic Party executive director Bradley Davidson said.</p><p>The chief justice makes appointments and works with circuit and district court judges and clerks. “Bob Vance has committed to working with the associate justices and judges of the court of appeals in making these important appointments,” the letter said.</p><p>Moore countered with a list of Republican endorsements: former Chief Justice Perry Hooper, former Supreme Court Justice Terry Butts, former Court of Criminal Appeals presiding Judge Pam Baschab, and Mobile County Circuit Judge Charles Graddick whom Moore beat in the GOP primary along with current Chief Justice Charles Malone.</p><p>“My Democratic opponent has pledged to support the Democrat (President), Barack Obama, and the Democrat platform of taxpayer-funded abortion and same-sex marriage, which contradicts the beliefs of most Alabamians,” Moore said in a statement. “If some judges want to support him, they have every right to do so.”</p><p>Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead downplayed the endorsements, saying it's not news when “nominal Republicans” who served on the court endorse a Democrat.</p><p>“I think the endorsement that most Alabamians are interested in is who Judge Vance has endorsed — President Barack Obama,” said Armistead, who noted that Vance's wife, Joyce Vance, was appointed by Obama as U.S. Attorney in Birmingham.</p><p>Vance said Moore was removed from office because he defied a federal judge, not because of his religious views.</p><p>“His tenure was a very controversial time not just pertaining to the monument but also difficulties of a relationship with the Legislature,” Vance said. “We don't need a return to that. As chief justice I recognize just as every other American does my obligation to follow the law.”</p>